One doesn’t expect to experience singing with more than 100 others under the direction of a talented music professor in their senior years, says Anne Wilcox, Whitworth assistant professor emerita of education. However, through the Whitworth Community Chorale, she and about 10 fellow residents of the Rockwood at Whitworth retirement community were able to seize such a chance.
“Many residents of Rockwood at Whitworth have long histories of singing – from female barbershop quartets to solo work to church choirs,” says Wilcox, who recently retired. “As someone who recently turned 70, I never dreamed these retirement years would hold such an amazing opportunity to make music with so many gifted musicians.”
Beyond providing a musical outlet, the chorale, which began last fall, aims to foster community building and relationships – a goal that’s certainly been achieved.
“Rehearsing and performing music together has formed a delightful community bond between the residents who joined the chorale,” Wilcox says. “We often practiced challenging musical passages together in between rehearsals. After rehearsals, we would sing and laugh in the elevators as we headed to our apartments. We have built memories and friendships that are priceless in these senior years of our lives.”
Learn more about the impact of the community chorale in “Whitworth Today.”
Interested in joining the chorale? Visit https://www.whitworth.edu/cms/academics/music/community-ensembles.
Worth a Look 